3 Simple Tricks for Rapid Weight Loss

We get it: Making healthy food choices can seem overwhelming because you have to think about them every. Time. You. Eat. But a new method makes it a whole lot easier.

By
Dana Leigh Smith

February 24, 2016

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3 Simple Tricks for Rapid Weight Loss

We get it: Making healthy food choices can seem overwhelming because you have to think about them every. Time. You. Eat. But a new method makes it a whole lot easier.

ByDana Leigh SmithFebruary 24, 2016

Cornell researchers have recently identified a simple three-pronged strategy that can make picking carrots over carrot cake a cinch! “Healthy eating can be as easy as making the healthiest choice the most convenient, attractive, and normal option,” Brian Wansink, Ph.D., Director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab, says. Wansink’s research team, who has dubbed their strategy the C.A.N method, notes that following their tips can also make eating less healthy fare like cookies, cakes and chips less convenient, unattractive and abnormal. Makes sense to us—and sounds like a great way to lose weight rapidly. Here’s how to make the C.A.N method work for you and your family:

C: Convenient

When we’re in a hurry or about to pass out of hunger, we’re going to grab whatever we can get our hands on first. For this reason, the research crew recommends making healthy foods like fruits and veggies the most convenient to pick up and consume. Place pre-cut veggies in the front of your fridge, put a bowl with fresh, grab-and-go fruit on your counter and store treats like cookies and chips on a high cupboard shelf so they are out of sight and of mind. Better yet, keep these treats out of your home altogether. This makes giving into a passing temptation—or feeding a rumbling tummy with junk — much more difficult.

A: Attractive

Every good chef knows that people eat with their eyes first. If it looks delicious, you’re more apt to eat it. Although it’s true that unattractive produce is having a moment right now (think: tomatoes with protruding warts and carrots with multiple “legs”) it may be worth spending a few extra dollars for “pretty” fruits and veggies if you think it will up the odds you’ll eat it. It can also help to take a few extra moments to plate your meals with care. If you use pretty dishes and arrange your food nicely on the table—instead of eating out of a pot or in front of the TV— you and your family are more likely to enjoy slimmed down meals.

N: Normal

People prefer foods that are familiar to them and part of their daily routine, according to the study. So if you always grab a bag of Doritos at 3 p.m. think ahead and pack a piece of fruit and 100-calorie pack of nuts (or another healthy duo that you like to munch on) instead. Over time, this new go-to treat will feel routine and you won’t even miss your daily chip indulgence. Trying to get your family eat healthier? Set out appetizer salads at dinner every night in lieu of your family’s go-to dinner rolls. At first they might protest but after awhile seeing leafy greens on the table will become the new normal.

By the way, be sure to ajust your evening routine and get plenty of healthy weight loss foods, and you’ll be dropping pounds in no time.

1

Eating a Big Meal

While you shouldn’t go to bed starving (that presents its own sleep-busting problems), you also shouldn’t hit the sack completely stuffed. When you eat a large meal before bed, your body is working to digest it long into the night — and if your body is still worked up, so are you. The later you fall asleep, the less rest you’ll get, and you’ll wake up feeling groggy and more likely to reach for calorie-dense items like these unhealthy breakfast foods.

Eat This! Tip: Instead of eating a monster meal for dinner, try to keep portions about the same as your breakfast and lunch, especially if you eat dinner on the later side. “Dinner size will vary per person, but aim to eat more slowly to allow your stomach and brain to communicate the message that you’re full and it’s time to stop eating,” says Isabel Smith, MS, RD, CDN, registered dietitian and founder of Isabel Smith Nutrition. “You want to eat your last meal at least an hour or two before going to bed,” she adds.

2

Eating Chocolate

Don’t get us wrong; chocolate has a lot going for it. In fact, any bar that contains at least 70% cacao is one of our favorite low-sugar snacks or desserts because of its high concentration of antioxidants and stress-busting abilities. Unfortunately, if eaten too late that chocolate could be the reason you can’t fall asleep. Dark chocolate contains caffeine, which can prevent your body from shutting down when you want it to if you’re sensitive to the compound.

Eat This! Tip: Chocolate bars have varying amounts of caffeine, but an average two-ounce, 70 percent dark chocolate bar contains around 79 milligrams. For reference, an eight-ounce cup of coffee contains around 145 milligrams. If you know you’re sensitive to caffeine, but don’t want to ditch the dark chocolate completely, try savoring your sweet treat earlier on in the night or cutting down on portions.

3

Exercising Too Late

Regular workouts have been found to help ease sleepless nights, but hitting the gym too late can mess with your body clock. Exercising close to bedtime—within about two hours—can energize your body so much that it may not be able to wind down when it’s time to call it a night.

Eat This! Tip: If you’re not a morning person, try to exercise right after work or midday if your schedule allows. That way, you can head home, eat dinner and relax knowing you’ll be able to fall fast asleep when the time comes. If you’re stuck at the office really late, you’re better off skipping your workout for the night and hitting the hay early. If your body gets the rest it needs you’re more likely to stay on track with your healthy eating and workouts in the days that follow.

4

Screen Time

Let your phone charge, so you have a chance to recharge, too. The light from screens on your phone or tablet actually suppresses the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin. Resist turning on the tube, too. Watching your favorite late night shows stimulate your mind and can make it harder for you to shut down.

Eat This! Tip: If you can’t stop trolling Instagram before you attempt to nod off, try dimming your phone’s brightness as much as possible to minimize melatonin suppression. However, the best thing you can do is put the device away and limit your time spent using it before bedtime. Start by shutting down at least 20 minutes before bed, and if you can, increase the time gap between screen time and bedtime each night until you put the phone away one to two hours before you turn in.

5

Not Packing Your Lunch

Preparation is what weight loss plans rely on, and failing to plan ahead could be why you can’t shake those pesky pounds. Forgetting to pack your lunch or high-protein snacks the night before means you have to navigate the office cafeteria or surrounding casual food spots when the lunch hour hits — and hope they post nutrition information.

Eat This! Tip: Use your Sunday evenings to cook food for the week ahead, or at least the next few days. Things like chicken breast, grilled veggies, or lentil and quinoa salads are easy to make in big batches, and you can spread them out throughout the week. To make things even easier, portion the food out into containers as soon as you’re done cooking so that you can grab one and run in the morning.

6

Pouring a Glass of Wine

Wine is touted as the “healthy” alcoholic drink due to its resveratrol content—a plant compound that has been linked to heart-healthy benefits. However, what you may not realize is that your evening glass of wine is considered a high-sugar beverage according to Smith, and drinking too much can hinder your ability to snooze. Alcohol in general negatively influences sleep quality. It may feel like that nightly glass of wine is relaxing you and helping you fall asleep faster, but it actually prevents your body from fully indulging in its REM (Rapid Eye Movement) cycle, which is where truly restful sleep and dreaming occurs.

Eat This! Tip: Try swapping out your glass of vino for a soothing cup of herbal tea before bed — your waistline will thank you, too. If you can knock the alcohol a night, you’ll slash quite a few calories from your total for the day, which will lead to even greater weight loss. But if you can’t ditch the wine all together, try to enjoy a glass earlier in the night—about two hours before bedtime—to avoid sleep disruption, and close the home bar after one or two glasses — tops.

7

Eating Spicy Foods

Spicy foods may rev up your metabolism, but they’re also ruining your chances at falling asleep. According to Smith, spices like cayenne and Tabasco not only boost metabolism, but also get your blood flowing, which can be bothersome for some before bed.

Eat This! Tip: Eat your spices earlier on in the day and stick to flavoring with herbs at night. Or, if you leave a few hours between your last meal and bed—especially if it’s on the spicier side—you’ll be able to avoid issues when you hit the lights later.

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